By Sam / News / • / 0 Comments

iPhone Calibration Machine pictured for the first time!

 

Apple’s weapon that gives it the power to ‘monopolize’ certain iPhone repairs has been revealed. Motherboard has shared exclusive showing an ‘iPhone Calibration Machine’ that is specifically designed to replace the Touch ID and calibrate the camera and display.

  • Motherboard obtained images of Apple’s  ‘iPhone Calibration Machine’
  • Designed to replace Touch ID sensors and calibrate the camera and display
  • Machine connects to Apple’s internal server  to re-calibrate a Touch ID sensor
  • This allows the firm to ‘monopolize’ certain repairs of the iPhone 

 

Apple’s weapon that gives it the power to ‘monopolize’ certain iPhone repairs has been revealed.

An ex-Apple employee has shared images with Motherboard showing an ‘iPhone Calibration Machine’ that is specifically designed to replace the Touch ID sensor and calibrate the camera and display.

The repair process includes linking an iPhone to Apple’s internal server in order to pair an old device with a new Touch ID sensor – technology that is unavailable to third-party repair stores.

REPAIR MACHINE

The iPhone Calibration Machine was created following the release of the iPhone 5s.

This machine lets Apple replace the Touch ID when the front of an iPhone needs to be repaired.

It lets the firm pair a the Touch ID sensor with the Secure Enclave chip inside of the smartphone.

A third-party repair shop can only replace the front of the phone.

The old Touch ID sensor must be switched over to the new display.

The iPhone Calibration Machine lets Apple monopolize certain iPhone repairs – included calibrating the camera and display.

Motherboard’s Jason Koebler obtained the images of the device, which lays hidden in the back of every Apple store from an ex-employee.

A separate source told Koebler that the machines went into effect following the release of the iPhone 5s – the handset release before Touch ID was introduced.

‘It was a big clunky machine that honestly looked like someone built it in their backyard,’ a former Apple Genius told him.

‘There were different ‘molds’ that different iPhone models would go into before going in the machine, and it would take around 30 minutes … there was some weird liquid that needed to be placed in the machine that we would have to wear gloves with to fix it. Lots of gas type valves and whatnot.

‘It literally looked like some backyard home job. Not very Apple-like at all.’

Even if a third-party store could get their hands on the blueprints of the machine, it would be difficult to replicate its abilities.

The iPhone Calibration Machine connects to an iMac, which links the damaged iPhone to an internal server in order to re-calibrate a Touch ID Center.

Considering this is a move only Apple can do, it leaves the firm in control of repairs.

 

The iPhone Calibration Machine connects to an iMac, which links the damaged iPhone to an internal server in order to re-calibrate a Touch ID Center. This allows Apple to pair the new Home button with the Touch ID sensor – something third-parties are unable to do

If you smashed your phone’s display and take it to a third-party repair shop, it will replace the entire front of the device – except for the Touch ID sensor .

The independent store  switches the sensor over to the new display, reports 9to5Mac.

This is because the Touch ID sensor is linked with the Secure Enclave chip that sits inside of the smartphone.

However, take it directly to an Apple Store and they will replace not just the front display, but also the Touch ID – they have the technology to pair the sensor with the Secure Enclave chip.

Motherboard also noted that the iPhone 8 ‘could effectively monopolize the iPhone repair market and put thousands of independent shops out of business’.

The reason being is that Apple’s highly-anticipated flagship smartphone is set to toss out the sensor and use a single piece of glass.

Source: MailOnline